RENT: Do you pay it on time? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 04-05-2007, 03:28 PM

My husband and I own a condo that we rent out to two guys. They never, and I mean never pay their rent on time. They're in their 30s and employed full-time. Their rent is $1,200 a month and that includes heat. It's a beautiful spacious apartment with fantastic appliances, and a washer & dryer in the unit. They each have their own deeded underground parking space. My husband and I lived there for five years until almost three years ago.

Every month, it's a different story...car insurance or repairs, blah, blah. I got an e:mail yesterday from one of them telling me that he'll pay the rent possibly on the 12th due to a "family emergency". He then thanked me for understanding. The other guy hasn't paid a dime and hasn't contacted us. We called him yesterday, and he's not returning our call. He deposits the rent online into my bank....and it's not there.

I don't know what to do. That money is a good portion of our income. It costs a lot to maintain the condo with the condo fee and taxes, etc.

I like the two guys. My brother is best friends with one of them, and he lived with him there until he moved to San Diego last March. When his friend was looking for a roommate, and he was there alone, I even lowered his rent to $900 for six months. His new roommate moved in last September. I used to get the rent on time when my brother lived there, but since then, it's a nightmare.

For those of you who pay rent, do you pay it on time? One of my tenants actually told me that everyone he knows pays their rent a week late because there's a grace period. I looked that up, and it's not true. In fact, I could have a lease drawn up that has a 'late fee'....for example, $10 a day. So if the rent is paid on the 8th, they pay an extra $80 ($10 a day for 8 days = $80). I don't want to do that. It's hard because it's my brother's friend.

I'm sorry, I'm just venting. I'm at my wit's end here. Every month, it's like pulling teeth. I don't work, and my husband is semi-retired. We've got our own bills to pay. It's like the domino effect. We don't get our rent, our bills slip, on and on. We never raise the rent and always take care of repairs on time. We're good landlords.

I wouldn't even mind if it was paid by the 5th or whatever, but we get it in dribs and drabs, and it's never paid in full until at least the 15th. I'm frustrated.

PZelda · 04-05-2007, 03:44 PM

I am the one that pays the rent - I have paid the rent every month ever since I moved here in 2003. I have a pretty cool landlord and the rent is pretty decent for where I live. As long as the rent is deposited by the 5th of every month, it's all good (in fact, I just came home a little while ago from dropping off the rent, so I thought it was amusing that you started this thread lol). The late fee thing is included in our lease but fortunately, that has never been an issue with us.

He raises our rent by $5 every year in June, so next month will be the last time I'll be paying the amount that our rent currently stands at. I have no problems with that.

You could tell your tenant that you are refusing to accept any more excuses unless he can come up with CONCRETE evidence that he is not able to pay the rent IN FULL, ON TIME. Oh, and tell him the thought of eviction has crossed your mind.

(I'm half-serious, here... heh.) In this case, I would tell you that you need to set your feelings aside and deal with this as a landlord. Janice, it really does sound to me like they're taking advantage of you guys. Was your brother's friend like that BEFORE he moved in? If no, then he's definitely taking advantage of you.

Just my $0.02 here.

TJL · 04-05-2007, 03:52 PM

I have been a very good boy the last year, and I do pay my rent on time at the end of every month.

In the past I have fell behind, but luckily I was able to work that out.

AB · 04-05-2007, 04:04 PM

We used to rent an apartment when we first got married and we always paid
our rent on time. Then we bought our first house & we always paid that on time too. Even during lean times we always figured out a way to pay our bills.
These guys don't sound very responsible, you may have to kick them out.

James"Thunder"Early · 04-05-2007, 04:32 PM

Every month, I pay the rent right on time without fail.

Bobby F. · 04-05-2007, 04:41 PM

One of the most famous lines in the Godfather was "It's nothing personal. It's just business." Brothers friend or not you expect the rent by a certain time and they should live up to that agreement. If this has been an ongoing situation and keeps continuing, you should definately get an amendment to the contract stating that if the rent is not paid by a certain date there will be late fees added on.

bandito · 04-05-2007, 05:50 PM

I feel your pain. My Wife and I own some rentals and every month it's the same BS hounding these people to pay the rent.

Czas na Zywiec · 04-05-2007, 06:13 PM

I never buy it. It's always something else. My parents own a motel/RV park and like bandito said, it's the same BS all the time. Recently a tenant of our didn't pay for about two months and my parents decided to take legal action. Of course she lost cause her excuses are BS and she was eventually evicted, tho she never said up because she had nothing to pay with. Before you lease out, you should get an attorney to change in your lease that if you are late (we set it to five days) then you will be evicted, no excuses. People took advantage of us and we realized it we were losing money and it wasn't worth it to be "nice" anymore.

Ireneparalegal · 04-06-2007, 12:10 AM

Ok Janice, stop being so damn kind to these guys and draw up a new lease with the late fee lingo added. Our leases state that the tenants must pay the full rent by the 5th of the month or the late fee of $50 is due with the rent, no ifs, ands or buts. Remember I told you that I have a second cousin who rents an apt. from me. Well, formerly it was my father having to deal with this sh*t, but now that I am the owner, I put a stop to that crap by making it clear that the old "but we're family" excuses wouldn't fly with me. Therefore, we sent out notices to all the tenants stating that the late fee would be implemented and any one who didn't pay the rent by the 5th would receive a notice to terminate. This so-called cousin pisses me off because their rent is REAL LOW, in the REAL WORLD they would be paying A HELLUVA LOT MORE, so they should be thanking their lucky stars.

Get on them Janice. You were kind to them ONE TOOOOOO MANY TIMES. They are now taking advantage of your kindness.

Chocolate Moose · 04-06-2007, 10:41 AM

You have to p ay rent on time. It’s part of your lease. If not, you can be served with a legal notice.

Max Whittaker · 04-06-2007, 07:41 PM

I can't stand the thought of my owing anybody anything. So I make sure the rent and all bills are paid as soon as I seem them. Get it out of the way, free up my mind of at least that clutter...

Janice, frankly, I'm surprise you are having trouble with these two. You always handle conflict so well on these boards.

Janice · 04-06-2007, 08:39 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone. My tenants don't have a lease at all, so they're tenants at will. They can leave anytime they want, and I can boot them anytime I want. I have to draw up a lease with a late fee clause.

Thanks Max, for the compliment. It's hard when they just refuse to listen. They send me polite e:mails asking me to please understand. They apologize for the inconvenience. They're really nice guys. One of them is my brother's best friend, so it makes it hard. The rents always gets paid, it's just always late. It's frustrating.

EmpressDR · 04-08-2007, 01:14 AM

One of them being your brother's best friend is part of the problem. When you are staying with someone as a result of friendship there isn't the same under-the-gun feeling as with strangers. You feel as if you ought to have special treatment, and even though you know better, you feel happier if you have special treatment.
I always pay my rent early if I can. I don't need problems, so I make out a check as soon as I know it will go through.
But when I stayed with my boyfriend I resented the idea that I pay any rent. He was so controlling, too. I had practically no rights, and no key.
I ended up paying anyway, without benefit of lease, and the bastard threw me out, and I was homeless.

My current landlady has that late fee notice. I never give the check to her husband or sister, just directly into her hands, because I wouldn't know if either of them might one day cheat her --not knowing anyone's situation. Few would've suspected my own.

If I ever get to be on Survivor or go abroad for study I might need a sublet --but considering how hard it might be to move my stuff out for a month or two, I might not bother. Thus, have to pay for two or more months I am absent. But I could plastic-wrap my chair to store in their basement, or something. IF I ever get lucky, and if I'm still here when I do.

04-05-2007, 03:28 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	RENT: Do you pay it on time? My husband and I own a condo that we rent out to two guys. They never, and I mean never pay their rent on time. They're in their 30s and employed full-time. Their rent is $1,200 a month and that includes heat. It's a beautiful spacious apartment with fantastic appliances, and a washer & dryer in the unit. They each have their own deeded underground parking space. My husband and I lived there for five years until almost three years ago. Every month, it's a different story...car insurance or repairs, blah, blah. I got an e:mail yesterday from one of them telling me that he'll pay the rent possibly on the 12th due to a "family emergency". He then thanked me for understanding. The other guy hasn't paid a dime and hasn't contacted us. We called him yesterday, and he's not returning our call. He deposits the rent online into my bank....and it's not there. I don't know what to do. That money is a good portion of our income. It costs a lot to maintain the condo with the condo fee and taxes, etc. I like the two guys. My brother is best friends with one of them, and he lived with him there until he moved to San Diego last March. When his friend was looking for a roommate, and he was there alone, I even lowered his rent to $900 for six months. His new roommate moved in last September. I used to get the rent on time when my brother lived there, but since then, it's a nightmare. For those of you who pay rent, do you pay it on time? One of my tenants actually told me that everyone he knows pays their rent a week late because there's a grace period. I looked that up, and it's not true. In fact, I could have a lease drawn up that has a 'late fee'....for example, $10 a day. So if the rent is paid on the 8th, they pay an extra $80 ($10 a day for 8 days = $80). I don't want to do that. It's hard because it's my brother's friend. I'm sorry, I'm just venting. I'm at my wit's end here. Every month, it's like pulling teeth. I don't work, and my husband is semi-retired. We've got our own bills to pay. It's like the domino effect. We don't get our rent, our bills slip, on and on. We never raise the rent and always take care of repairs on time. We're good landlords. I wouldn't even mind if it was paid by the 5th or whatever, but we get it in dribs and drabs, and it's never paid in full until at least the 15th. I'm frustrated.

04-05-2007, 03:44 PM	#2
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I am the one that pays the rent - I have paid the rent every month ever since I moved here in 2003. I have a pretty cool landlord and the rent is pretty decent for where I live. As long as the rent is deposited by the 5th of every month, it's all good (in fact, I just came home a little while ago from dropping off the rent, so I thought it was amusing that you started this thread lol). The late fee thing is included in our lease but fortunately, that has never been an issue with us. He raises our rent by $5 every year in June, so next month will be the last time I'll be paying the amount that our rent currently stands at. I have no problems with that. You could tell your tenant that you are refusing to accept any more excuses unless he can come up with CONCRETE evidence that he is not able to pay the rent IN FULL, ON TIME. Oh, and tell him the thought of eviction has crossed your mind. (I'm half-serious, here... heh.) In this case, I would tell you that you need to set your feelings aside and deal with this as a landlord. Janice, it really does sound to me like they're taking advantage of you guys. Was your brother's friend like that BEFORE he moved in? If no, then he's definitely taking advantage of you. Just my $0.02 here.
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04-05-2007, 03:52 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I have been a very good boy the last year, and I do pay my rent on time at the end of every month. In the past I have fell behind, but luckily I was able to work that out.
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04-05-2007, 04:32 PM	#5
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	Every month, I pay the rent right on time without fail.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.

04-05-2007, 05:50 PM	#7
bandito Going Topless Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Location: The Steel City Posts: 6,320	I feel your pain. My Wife and I own some rentals and every month it's the same BS hounding these people to pay the rent.
	__________________ bandito

04-05-2007, 04:04 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	We used to rent an apartment when we first got married and we always paid our rent on time. Then we bought our first house & we always paid that on time too. Even during lean times we always figured out a way to pay our bills. These guys don't sound very responsible, you may have to kick them out.

04-05-2007, 04:41 PM	#6
Bobby F. Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 30, 2004 Posts: 3,818	One of the most famous lines in the Godfather was "It's nothing personal. It's just business." Brothers friend or not you expect the rent by a certain time and they should live up to that agreement. If this has been an ongoing situation and keeps continuing, you should definately get an amendment to the contract stating that if the rent is not paid by a certain date there will be late fees added on.

04-05-2007, 06:13 PM	#8
Czas na Zywiec what up Forum Star Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Southwest Side, Chicago Posts: 18,398	I never buy it. It's always something else. My parents own a motel/RV park and like bandito said, it's the same BS all the time. Recently a tenant of our didn't pay for about two months and my parents decided to take legal action. Of course she lost cause her excuses are BS and she was eventually evicted, tho she never said up because she had nothing to pay with. Before you lease out, you should get an attorney to change in your lease that if you are late (we set it to five days) then you will be evicted, no excuses. People took advantage of us and we realized it we were losing money and it wasn't worth it to be "nice" anymore.

04-06-2007, 12:10 AM	#9
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Ok Janice, stop being so damn kind to these guys and draw up a new lease with the late fee lingo added. Our leases state that the tenants must pay the full rent by the 5th of the month or the late fee of $50 is due with the rent, no ifs, ands or buts. Remember I told you that I have a second cousin who rents an apt. from me. Well, formerly it was my father having to deal with this sh*t, but now that I am the owner, I put a stop to that crap by making it clear that the old "but we're family" excuses wouldn't fly with me. Therefore, we sent out notices to all the tenants stating that the late fee would be implemented and any one who didn't pay the rent by the 5th would receive a notice to terminate. This so-called cousin pisses me off because their rent is REAL LOW, in the REAL WORLD they would be paying A HELLUVA LOT MORE, so they should be thanking their lucky stars. Get on them Janice. You were kind to them ONE TOOOOOO MANY TIMES. They are now taking advantage of your kindness.
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04-06-2007, 10:41 AM	#10
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,903	You have to p ay rent on time. It’s part of your lease. If not, you can be served with a legal notice.
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04-06-2007, 07:41 PM	#11
Max Whittaker I want Serenity back Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 30, 2001 Posts: 6,180	I can't stand the thought of my owing anybody anything. So I make sure the rent and all bills are paid as soon as I seem them. Get it out of the way, free up my mind of at least that clutter... Janice, frankly, I'm surprise you are having trouble with these two. You always handle conflict so well on these boards.
	__________________ I will get things done for America – to make our people safer, smarter, & healthier. I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

04-06-2007, 08:39 PM	#12
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Thanks for the advice everyone. My tenants don't have a lease at all, so they're tenants at will. They can leave anytime they want, and I can boot them anytime I want. I have to draw up a lease with a late fee clause. Thanks Max, for the compliment. It's hard when they just refuse to listen. They send me polite e:mails asking me to please understand. They apologize for the inconvenience. They're really nice guys. One of them is my brother's best friend, so it makes it hard. The rents always gets paid, it's just always late. It's frustrating.

04-08-2007, 01:14 AM	#13
EmpressDR Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2004 Location: California Posts: 279	One of them being your brother's best friend is part of the problem. When you are staying with someone as a result of friendship there isn't the same under-the-gun feeling as with strangers. You feel as if you ought to have special treatment, and even though you know better, you feel happier if you have special treatment. I always pay my rent early if I can. I don't need problems, so I make out a check as soon as I know it will go through. But when I stayed with my boyfriend I resented the idea that I pay any rent. He was so controlling, too. I had practically no rights, and no key. I ended up paying anyway, without benefit of lease, and the bastard threw me out, and I was homeless. My current landlady has that late fee notice. I never give the check to her husband or sister, just directly into her hands, because I wouldn't know if either of them might one day cheat her --not knowing anyone's situation. Few would've suspected my own. If I ever get to be on Survivor or go abroad for study I might need a sublet --but considering how hard it might be to move my stuff out for a month or two, I might not bother. Thus, have to pay for two or more months I am absent. But I could plastic-wrap my chair to store in their basement, or something. IF I ever get lucky, and if I'm still here when I do.